Japanese electronics are well known throughout the world for their quality and their low cost. Japan lacks vital resources needed for industrial expansion such as coal. Because of this, Japan is the world's top importer of coal and the world's second major importer of oil. What Japan lacks in natural resources, it makes up in labor resources (site factor). Its massive population's cheap labor is a main reason to the low cost of its electronics. In the 1950s, Japan became aware that its counterparts, South Korea, Taiwan as well as other Asian countries with a large population, had even cheaper labor not to mention more workers. The Japanese began training their workers in advanced industries. Due to the cheap labor but high quality products, the industry flourished in Japan. The skilled workers expanded the Japaneses' reputation for their electronics. Soon, Japan became the world's top exporter of automobiles, ships, televisions and other electronics. Manufacturing Class Training Workers
Manufacturing class by the College of Industrial Technology
Situation Factors Circumstances regarding the distance and transportation of products that often dictate the location of Industry. Japan's main consumers are More Developed Countries who can afford leisure items such as television sets and music players. These countries can range in distance from a couple kilometers away or on the opposite side of the world. Japan makes up the transportation cost with higher shipping fees on its products. Nonetheless, people still purchase the electronics from Japan due to the quality.
Countries often have to the cost of transportation from the resources to the factories and the cost of transportation from the factory to the markets. Often, Bulk-reducing industries such as the steel industry locate their factories closer to the mines than the markets to save money on transportation. Bulk-gaining Industries, such as soft drink bottling, locate near the market for the same reasons.
Because the main resources Japan is abundant in is cheap labor and the markets for the industry are all over the world, Japan's situation factors do not play a big role in distribution patterns.
Population Commuting into Tokyo Metropolis by Prefecture
People from surrounding prefectures travel to Toyko for various reasons ranging from
Population Commuting into Tokyo Metropolis by Prefecture (2005)
jobs to leisure services provided in the metropolis.
Site Factors The three main Site factors are labor, land, and capital costs.
Labor costs and the amount of people available for minimal pay is essential for some industries. The textile industry is composed of fairly simple tasks that nearly anybody can complete for minimal wage.
Land costs can play an important role in locating a factory. If the land costs are too expensive, the money from the output may not be enough to produce profit. Factories work more efficiently on a single floor therefore cheap land in rural areas produce the highest profit than more expensive land.
Often, industries must borrow funds in order to expand. Some areas are more willing to lend money to factories than others therefore increasing profit. Less Developed Countries typically locate themselves in areas where money is more freely lent.
Of the three situation factors, labor has the most impact on the Japanese Industry. Tokyo is a major industrial city with a large population willing to work minimum wage.
Tokyo, Japan is one of the most populated cities in the world. Most of these people are engaged in secondary jobs (manufacturing) as well as tertiary jobs (services).
Number of Establishments in Tokyo (Compared to Japan)
Number of Establishments by Industry in Tokyo
Wholesale and retail sale, restaurants and hotels, and manufacturing are the main industries of Tokyo among other industries.
Manufacturing Class Training Workers
Situation Factors Circumstances regarding the distance and transportation of products that often dictate the location of Industry. Japan's main consumers are More Developed Countries who can afford leisure items such as television sets and music players. These countries can range in distance from a couple kilometers away or on the opposite side of the world. Japan makes up the transportation cost with higher shipping fees on its products. Nonetheless, people still purchase the electronics from Japan due to the quality.
Population Commuting into Tokyo Metropolis by Prefecture
People from surrounding prefectures travel to Toyko for various reasons ranging from
Site Factors The three main Site factors are labor, land, and capital costs.
Tokyo, Japan is one of the most populated cities in the world. Most of these people are engaged in secondary jobs (manufacturing) as well as tertiary jobs (services).
Number of Establishments in Tokyo (Compared to Japan)